Progressive hobbyhorse



Sept. 14, 1937. c. E. PEARSON PROGRESSIVE HOBBYHORSE Filed Jan. 26, 1955 I n 0 4% o f m m 9 3 8 W g P. Q .4 ou aC .011 Mu? w O \OdH 1 2 8 .w 4 Q Ma x a 4 Z 21 1B 1 M8 v 35 Skim/Mg.

- to provide a hobby horse Patented Sept. 14, 1937 PROGRESSIVE HOBBYHORSE Carl EriclPear son, Camden, N. J.

' Application. January 26, 1935,

9 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in hobby horses of the progressive type and my object is smoothly continuous and very realistic simulation of the galloping one which gives the effect ofrtheeasy rise and fall of such motion, in exhilarating and healthful action that utilizes the propulsive power of the rider more fully and effectively than has been.

possible in prior devices of this type. Even without ball or roller bearings a. greater speed can be attained with my device than is practicable with other hobby horses which have suchbearings. I provide. ahobby horse that is capable of both forward and backward progressive movement; which is adjustable to travel either with or without use of the riders arms as an aid to motion; which will normally advance in yet is freely steerable to right or left by either hand orfoot action of the rider; and which will not readily tip over while turning. In short, I provide a perfected hobby horse in which I have incorporated all the features desirable and practicable in such a device; thus making it attractive for use by those who know what horseback riding is and producing a means of health giving exercise and recreation for use in private homes, playgrounds, and public amusement parks, roller rinks, etc.

I attain my object by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation with the body in vertical section. 7

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the running gear, on line ,2-2 of Fig. l with forward end of driving bar broken away.

Fig. 3 is a front shoulder perspective of the complete horse.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of steering gear as from line 4-4 of Fig. 1, minus the tie rods con meeting with stirrups.

Fig. 5 is a partial elevation from rear showing crank axle detail. 7 e I Fig. 6 is a section of the stirrup member showing its suspension from driving bar.

The main component parts of my hobby horse are few and their assembly simple. As shown herein the horse is mainly constructed of wood. The horse body proper is formed in two parts, the trunk, hind legs and saddle constituting one unit, I, and the head, chest and forelegs the other unit, 2. The trunk, 3, is vertically recessed centrally, as at 4, to receive the chest portion of the head unit 2 and permit it to move in vertical plane therein, pivoted on a transverse bolt 5.

that gives the rider a action of alivesaddle horse;

a straight line,

Serial No. 3,656

The head unit 2 thus has a limited rotary movement in vertical plane centrally within the trunk 3. The tail, 6, of the horse may be attached to. 1 the trunk by being inserted and glued in a suitable recess inlatter, as glued to the trunk or attached by wood screws, as 9 and Ill. The hind legs of thehorse, H and I2, are suitably mounted pivotally iupon side throws, l3; and M, of a crank shaft, l5, which forms arear axle that is unitary with two; sup- 1o porting and driving wheels, "5 and I1. Extended centrally of the said crank axle l5in opposite direction to the side throws l3 and l4 isfa center. throw l8 on which is mounted pivotally, as by the axle traversing same, driving or stirrup bar 29, the forward end 2i of which has a. series of transverse holes therein and passes between the front legs'22 and 23 of the head unit 2, and is pivotally secured between 7 said legs by a transverse bolt 24 with a slotted 20 head 25. A spring pawl 26 is attached to the horse leg adjace t the bolt-head'25, as bystaple 21, and lies across the slotted head "25 to retain the bolt in place while permitting easy removal for adjustment of the ammgmno to another 25 position by means of the'pivot holes as at 2|. The forelegs 22 and 23 terminate in a structurally integral foot block 28, which is ;mounted on a front axle bar 29 by the lower end 30 of steering rod 32, whichis thrust through said axle bar for- 30 ward of its longitudinal axis andretained by a terminal nut, as 3|. The steering rod 32 extends upwardly between and along the forelegs 22 and 23 and through the-chest and neck of head unit 2 to terminate above the horses neck 35 in a cross bar33 forfhand manipulation of the head unit 2 by the rider. On the end of the front axle bar 29 are pivoted steering knuckles 34 and 35 which have armextensions, as at 36, pivoted to a cross bar nects the said. knuckles and has midway of its length an upstanding marginal flange 38 with a hole 39 init opposite the hand steeringrod 32." The ends of this crossbar 31 extend laterally beyond their pivotal connection with the arms 36 ofthe steering knuckles andhave transver'se' holes, as 40 and 4|, adjacent their respective" ends. Projected'fromthe steering rod 32 isfa right angularly extended steering finger 42 which extends into and engages the hole 39 in flange 38 of the cross bar 31, and is thus adapted. to swing laterally against either side of said hole 39 and move the cross bar 31 and steering knuckles. Rotatably mounted on the said steering knuckles 34 and 35 aresteering and front 1.. The saddle,;8,may be 5- the rear end, l9, of a 15 31, which pivotally con-' 40 V supporting wheels 43 and 44. beneath the saddle section of Suitably located the horse trunk,

ward at their forward ends, have their bent ends adjacent thetersteering wheels when foot pressure SWlIlgS the s up steerme a nn t d 2,5 stirrup member forward or rearward. It will be Wlth d fi a mg axle and 'supportlng wheels notedthat the forelegs of the horsebeing mountf veering Said sed as by pin 30, forward of the longitudinal axis 2. 'In a hobby ho a o y Comprised of a head of the front axle 29, are so disposed-that the andf elegs nl plv -in a r nk and hlndle s steering axle if free to move laterally and ununit 1;0 have llmlted rotary mBnt th e n veered by hand or foot of th rider 11 a vertical plane, a Wheel and crank axle pivotally mally trall behind the forelegs nlvot on the end Supporting sa1d hlnd unit a d pt o v 30 of the steerlng rod and thus tend to travel undulatlve progresslve m v m nt t said dy, in a straight course, l i a stirrup bar pivotally connectlng sa1d crank axle The operation of my hobby horse as shown is and the forelegs unit to reclprocatively rock 35 very simple matter Th rider mounts horse the fore unit in the hind un1t, a knuckle jointed and sits relaxed with his weightup n th daxle attached to the feet of said fore unlt and dle 8, his feet resting o th stjrrups 43 and supporting wheels on sa1d axle, and steering. his hands grasping the handle bar 3 The crank means for veering d W axle than sets about as indicated in Fig. 5, the Ina hobby horse a body comprised of ahead, 4.0 welght of the rider on the short throws of the and forelegs unit pivoted ill a trunk and hindlegs crank axle depressin the so th t th long unit to have limited rotary movement therein in throw of the crank axle sets about 20 degrees a Vertical plane, a Supporting wheel and crank forward of the upper dead center The rider axle unit p v al y Supporting the a hind unit then stands on the stirrup and hi to give undulative progressive movement to the said body, a stirrup bar pivotally connecting the said axlejand means for veering said wheel by steering rod or stirrup movement. 4. In a rider operated hobby horse a body comprised of hind and fore units united by a transverse pivot, front and rear supporting wheels,.a stirrup bar pivotally attached to said fore unit, lifts its head, pulls forward on a crank axle joining the rear wheels and pivotally supporting said hind unit, a throw on said crank axle that is pivotally attached to said stirrup bar, a veerable supporting wheel attached to the foot of said fore unit, and means for veering the said wheel. Wheels, giving a life-like simulation of the galloping motionof a horse that becomes increasingly realistic and enjoyable as momentum gives flow of motion. 7 1

Should it be desired to operate the hobby horse without application of arm force by the rider,

having movable forelegs, front and rear supportand a hand grip on said head and forelegs unit,

ing wheels, a crank axle joining the rear Wheels, and means for accomplishing rotation of the drivthrows on said crank axle, a connection between ing wheel approximately 190 degrees by applicathe hindfeet of the horse and the throws of said tion of the riders weight to the seat, 150, degrees 5 crank axle, and a driving bar with stirrups thereby application of the weight to the stirrups, and

on pivoted on a throw of the crank axle and piv- 20 degrees by application of the riders arm force 5 oted on the forelegs to move said forelegs to and to the hand grip on the head unit. from the hindlegs. 9. In a wheel mounted, rider operated, pro- 7. In a rider operated progressive hobby horse gressive hobby horse having a movable head and 10 having fore and hindlegs and supporting wheels, forelegs unit, a saddle seat, stirrups, and a hand a front wheel axle, and a vertical pivot connecting grip on the head and forelegs unit, and adjustable said front wheel axle and said forelegs and located means for varying the wheel base length to peron the center line of the axle forward of the longimit application of efiective propulsive force solely tudinal axis of said axle. by alternate application of the rider's weight to 15 8. In a wheel mounted, rider operated, pro seat and stirrups, without necessity of applying 15 gressive hobby horse, a driving wheel, a movable hand force. head and forelegs unit, a saddle seat and stirrups, CARL ERIC PEARSON. 

